Combination portable pocket light and camera unit



Nov. 29, 1938. J. A. BELL 2,138,723

COMBINATION PORTABLE POCKET LIGHT AND CAMERA UNIT Filed May 25, 1936 (John A. Bell Gum/mug 50 moved from the holder and used separately. the reason'that it is not commercially practical to 50 a 55 shown equipped with a resilient member l6 for lapping of the beams which gives a uniform 55 Patented Nov. 29, 1-938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION PORTABLE POCKET LIGHT AND CAMERA UNIT John Arthur Bell, Jackson, Mich. Application May 25, 1936, Serial No; 81,677

2 Claims. (Cl. Mil-6.4)

The present invention relates to improvements urging the terminals of the batteries l2 into enin portable combination pocket light and camera gagement with each other and into engagement units. with a contact l8. At one end of the body H) An object of the invention is to provide an is an enlarged head 20 which'is preferably made inexpensive efllcient unit for taking photographs of two sheet metal stamped parts 22 and 24, the at night which is particularly adaptable for use part 22 being dish-shaped being attached to one by police ofllcers for crime detection, for nature end of the body- 10. The part 24 is shown hinged .study and the like. to the part 22 at 26; the parts 22 and 24 being Another object is to provide a combination held in the position shown in Fig. l by some suitpocket light and camera unit which is compact able latch means such as a spring finger 28 car- 10 and designed to receive a miniature camera of ried by the part 24 and having a hook 30 adapted well known construction available at the present to be snapped over the flange 32 on the part 22. time upon the market. Suitably supported in the hinged part 24 are re- A further object resides in a novel portable flectors 34 and 36 having light bulbs 38 and 40 holder unit for incandescent lights and camera threaded into and held in position in a well 15 in whichthe camera is held centrally of two or known .manner. A removable cap 42 positions more light reflectors so as to uniformly illumilenses 44 and 46 relative to their respective renate objects at the point of focus of the camera. fiectors. I

These and other objects and advantages re- With the part 24 swung outwardly about its siding in the specific details of construction and hinge 26 a small camera 48 of well known con- 20 combination and arrangement of parts will bestruction is insertable into the part 22 and held come apparent from the following description in p n y pring clips 50 and 5 m r in when considered in connection with the accomoposite sides of the camera structure. The campanying drawing wherein: era 48 is of the type using a rolled film with the Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view 11811941 tum y 54 and 55 extending Out through 25 through my improved pocket and camera unit, suitable openings (not shown) in the parts 22 Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the unit and 24 in position to be readily manipulated. shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the left, and The shutter operating cable 58 extends through Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modified an opening in the part 22 and is received in a 80 construction showing the lens of the camera pr g p 50 to position t usual thumb p centrally positioned with reference to three reated plun 62 dj t t e p button Sw flectors. 84 which is manipulated to complete the circuit The present invention contemplates a combetween the batteries and the light bulbs in a pact pocket light and camera unit which may be well known manner. The front portion of the conveniently carried by a police officer or person part 24 and cap 42 are apertured to provide an 35 interested in photographing objects at night. open ng 66 sl t larger t t wa d e Preferably, the unit is designed to removably 68 of the camera in which the lens is located to receive a miniature camera of'well known conpermit the same to project therethrough. The struction which when positioned the lens thereof opening 66 is preferably midway between the reis centrally located with reference to two or more flectors 34 and 36 and in turn the reflectors 34 46 light reflectors forming concentrated light beams and 36 are so constructed so that the light beams respectively, so arranged that objects in the focus emitted therefrom overlap an provide a maxiof the camera will be uniformly illuminated; the mum illumination within the focusing range of focus of the light reflectors being such as to act the camera. In addition, the construction of the as a finder for the camera. To obtain the maxireflectors 34 and 36 is such that the limit of the 45 mum amount of-utility my unit is preferably beams of light emitted therefrom is sufliciently constructed so as to serve the purpose of pocket confined as to constitute a finder for the camera. flashlights of conventional construction, as a I have found that satisfactory resu can not camera holder, or the camera may be readily rebe obtained by t e use o a Single efle f Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a form of the eliminate the dark spot which is usually found invention consisting of a tubular body In within at the center of a single light beam. However, which is housed a plurality of batteries i2 which by using two or more reflectors the camera may are inserted by removing the cap l4 which is be focused at the point of intersection and overillumination to the object being photographed. While I have found that two light reflectors give satisfactory results and are preferred for the sake of compactness, more than two reflectors may beusedasshowninl'ig. 3whereinthreereflectors ll, I2 and I4 are shown equally positioned about the opening 16 in the removable cover of the unit through which the forward end II or the camera projects. I

While the camera is preferably of removable construction and of a design enabling the same to be used independently of my combination pocket light and camera unit it may be built in and become a unitary part of the holder structure for the batteries and reflectors. t

It will be fully appreciated that the present invention is exceedingly adaptable for use by police ofllcers who usually carry, as part of their equipment, a pocket flash light and oiiicers so equipped will be able to bring a fleeing person or intruder into the intersecting light beams and to take a photograph with the unit held in one hand with the other hand free for manipulation of the firearm or night club. For use in taking night photographs by persons interested in nature study the same characteristics of compactness and ability to be operated by one hand lends the present invention for such purposes.

When thelighting provided by the equipment hereinabove described does not make possible pictures of sufllcient detail for the purpose desired, greater detail may be obtained by using the present apparatus in combination with the usual flashlight apparatus synchronized to provide a flash at the instant of the opening of the camera shutter. In such case, the function of the reflectors is solely for providing a concentrated beam to assist in directing the.camera in the proper direction. 7

It is fully anticipated that changes in construction and form over that disclosed herein will readilyoecurtothoseskilledintheartandfor thatreasonldonotwishtorestrict theinvention to the specific construction shown but to include all changes in construction and shape coming within the spirit of my invention and fallingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to protect by Letters Patent and claim is:

l. A portable combination light and camera unit comprising an elongated body for the storage of batteries and constituting a handle to bereceived in the palm of the hand, an enlarged head 7 at one end of said body comprising flxed and hinged parts, a removable camera unit adapted to be removably supported and housed in said flxed part with the lens thereof axially aligned with said body, a plurality of reflectors with bulbs therein for forming concentrated light beams respectively, supported from said hinged part, said reflectors with said hinged part in closed position being located upon opposite sides of said lens with the reflecting light beams thereof overlapping within the focusing range and being directed along the axis ofJsaid camera.

2. A portable combination light and camera unit, comprising an elongated body for the storage of batteries and constituting a handle to be received in the hand, an enlarged head at one end of said camera comprising fixed and separable parts, a removable camera unit housed in said fixed part with the lens thereof axially aligned with said body, a plurality of reflectors with bulbs therein for forming concentrated light beams respectively supported from said separable part, said reflectors with said separable part in closed position being located on opposite sides of said lens with the reflecting light beams thereof overlapping within the focusing range and being directed along the axis of said camera.

JOHN AR'I'HUR BELL. 

